Calgary Cinematheque screens 1920s surrealist films in Seton and Rocky Ridge this September
The non-profit's Surreal in the Suburbs series brings live jazz accompaniment and short films to south and north Calgary YMCAs, reaching audiences in Okotoks, Airdrie, and beyond.
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Calgary Cinematheque, the non-profit dedicated to screening transformative cinema history, is bringing its curated film series beyond downtown for the first time with Surreal in the Suburbs, a program of 1920s surrealist short films accompanied by live improvised jazz.
The organization, formed in March 2007 by local arts professionals, filmmakers, critics and educators, has long programmed cinephile-focused work at the historic Globe Cinema downtown. Past series have included "Cinema of Resistance," highlighting films about revolutions like Rome, Open City (1945) and Battle of Algiers (1966), and this summer's "Big Screen Bucket List," featuring classics like Lawrence of Arabia (1962) and Days of Heaven (1978).
Executive Director Spencer Estabrooks said the expansion to suburbs fills a gap: "As a non-profit charity dedicated to sharing cinema history by screening transformative cinema, I feel there are many people we haven't met yet and don't know about the Calgary Cinematheque."
On September 9, Cinematheque screens at Seton YMCA (4995 Market St) in far southeast Calgary, drawing audiences from Okotoks, Langdon, and Indus. On September 10, the series moves to Rocky Ridge YMCA (11300 Rocky Ridge Rd NW) in the far north, serving audiences from Airdrie, Bearspaw, and surrounding areas.
The Surrealist movement emerged after World War I as artists explored the unconscious mind, seeking to synthesize dreams with cold reality through irrational, absurd, and psychological imagery. The movement challenged art's traditional function of representing reality. Born in France and dominated by Parisian artists, Surrealism merged with German Expressionism and spread throughout the Western world.
The 75-minute screening program features multiple shorts mostly from the 1920s, including The Fall of the House of Usher, Rhythmus 21, The Life and Death of 9413: A Hollywood Extra, Symphonie Diagonale, Un Chien Andalou, Meshes of the Afternoon, and Return to Reason.
Programming director Ben Rowe explained the decision to add live music: successful past screenings featuring live scores—notably Charlie Chaplin's The Gold Rush—proved audiences respond powerfully to synchronized accompaniment. The surrealist subject matter grants musicians "freedom of interpretation," Rowe said, while a package of shorts showcases a variety of artists and creative voices. The live accompaniment uses improvised jazz-like interpretation rather than pre-composed score.
Estabrooks recalled the impact of last year's surrealist screening with live score: "People left the theatre transformed, saying, 'That was one of the best theatrical experiences of my life.' That's what we want to share in the suburbs."
The details
When and where does Calgary Cinematheque screen the Surreal in the Suburbs series?
Calgary Cinematheque screens the series on September 9, 2026 at Seton YMCA (4995 Market St) in southeast Calgary, and on September 10, 2026 at Rocky Ridge YMCA (11300 Rocky Ridge Rd NW) in the north.
What films are included in the Surreal in the Suburbs program?
The 75-minute program features multiple short films mostly from the 1920s, including 'The Fall of the House of Usher', 'Rhythmus 21', 'The Life and Death of 9413: A Hollywood Extra', 'Symphonie Diagonale', 'Un Chien Andalou', 'Meshes of the Afternoon', and 'Return to Reason'.
What accompanies the screenings?
Live improvised jazz accompaniment synchronizes with the surrealist films, providing what the Calgary Cinematheque describes as jazz-like interpretation rather than a pre-composed score.
